Opposed disc type ball projecting device

Claim 2

In a ball throwing machine of the type having a pair of rotatably mounted discs which form therebetween a converging gap into which a ball can be introduced, the improvement which comprises: a rotatably mounted magazine having a plurality of openings extending therethrough to form pockets for receiving balls to be thrown: a chute having its upper end disposed adjacent said magazine for gravitationally receiving a ball from a pocket in said magazine and having its lower end disposed adjacent said converging gap for discharging a ball betwen said discs; means for supporting said pair of discs; first adjustment means connected with said chute to permit selective adjustment of said chute''s lower end relative to said converging gap; second adjustment means connected with said disc supporting means to enable said discs to be selectively adjusted relative to one another to vary said converging gap, said disc supporting means including a drive motor for each one of said discs, a mounting block for each drive motor and, a pivot mount for each one of said mounting blocks; said second adjustment means including means connected with each of said mounting blocks to enable each one of said block to be pivoted about its respective pivotal axis.

Claim 3

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said magazine is rotatable about a central axis, wherein said disc supporting means are rotatable about, and wherein all such axes are substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 4

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein the magazine has a ball receiving pocket, a fixed ball support is disposed beneath said magazine so that a ball within said pocket rests upon said ball support as said magazine rotates.

Claim 5

The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said ball support is interrupted at the area overlying said chute upper end so that a ball can drop gravitationally from said pocket into said chute, and wherein a cover overlies said magazine above the interrupted area of said ball support.

Claim 6

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein a drive means is provided for rotating said magazine, said drive means including a drive motor positioned remotely from said magazine, a drive belt connected between said drive motor and said magazine, and a spring biased arm exerting pressure against said drive belt between said drive motor and said magazine for maintaining tension on said drive belt.

Claim 7

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein the means connected with each one of said mounting blocks includes a pair of links, one of which is pivotally connected with each mounting block.

Claim 8

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said discs have a slip resistant coating on the surfaces thereof facing said gap.

Claim 9

The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided to enable at least one of said discs to be moved relatively to said chute lower end and to said other disc so that a curve will be imparted to a ball thrown by said discs.

Claim 10

In a ball throwing machine of the type having a main frame, a pair of discs mounted in such relative positions that the axes of said discs shall normally intersect at a point midway between said discs and that the planes of such discs shall intersect at a point outside the peripheries of said discs, means for rotating said discs and means for introducing a ball between said discs while said discs are rotated so that the ball shall be ejected at a high rate of speed, the improvement wherein: said means for introducing a ball between said discs comprises a magazine formed by spaced concentric inner aNd outer rings having radial webs extending therebetween forming a series of ball receiving pockets, a ball support means fixed beneath said magazine to support the balls within said pockets, said ball support means having an opening to enable a ball to drop gravitationally from one pocket and through said opening, and an inclined chute having an upper end adjacent said opening in said ball support means and having a lower end extending between said pair of discs so that a ball dropping from one of said pockets and through said opening will pass through said chute and discharge between said discs; said means for rotating said discs comprises a drive motor fixed to each of said discs; a mounting block is provided for each of said drive motors, each one of said mounting blocks being pivotally attached to said main frame; a first attachment means is connected to said inclined chute to permit selective adjustment of the angle of inclination of said chute; and a second attachment means is connected to said mounting blocks to permit selective pivoting of said mounting blocks and hence to permit adjustment of said relative positions of said discs.

Claim 11

In a ball throwing machine of the type having a main frame, a pair of discs mounted in such relative positions that the axes of said discs shall normally intersect at a point midway between said discs and that the planes of such discs shall intersect at a point outside the peripheries of said discs, means for rotating said discs and means for introducing a ball between said discs while said discs are rotated so that the ball shall be ejected at a high rate of speed, the improvement wherein: said means for introducing a ball between said discs comprises a magazine formed by spaced concentric inner aNd outer rings having radial webs extending therebetween forming a series of ball receiving pockets, a ball support means fixed beneath said magazine to support the balls within said pockets, said ball support means having an opening to enable a ball to drop gravitationally from one pocket and through said opening, and an inclined chute having an upper end adjacent said opening in said ball support means and having a lower end extending between said pair of discs so that a ball dropping from one of said pockets and through said opening will pass through said chute and discharge between said discs; said means for rotating said discs comprises a drive motor fixed to each of said discs; a mounting block is provided for each of said drive motors, each one of said mounting blocks being pivotally attached to said main frame; a first attachment means is connected to said inclined chute to permit selective adjustment of the angle of inclination of said chute; and a second attachment means is connected to said mounting blocks to permit selective pivoting of said mounting blocks and hence to permit adjustment of said relative positions of said discs.

Claim 12

The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein said magazine further includes a cone mounted upon said inner ring to facilitate flow of said balls into said pockets.

Claim 13

The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein a drive means is provided for rotating said magazine, said drive means including: a magazine drive motor attached to said main frame, a drive pulley attached to said magazine drive motor, a driven pulley attached to said magazine, a belt drive trained over said drive pulley and driven pulley, and a spring biased arm exerting pressure against said belt drive to maintain tension thereon.

Claim 14

The improvement defined in claim 9 further including means for adjusting the position of each drive motor on its mounting block to permit one drive motor and its associated disc to be moved to a position where the disc axes are out of their normal intersecting alignment, whereby a curve is imparted to a ball thrown by said discs.

Claim 15

The improvement defined in claim 9 further including an arm member swingably mounted above said discs, said arm member being swung forwardly as a ball is thrown by said discs to simulate a ball being thrown by said arm member.